[vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”WHO IS WHO?”][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”305″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Mal is skilled, dangerous when provoked, and perpetually insecure. A rabid tea drinker, his attempt to leave a former life in the shadows behind as a faux college professor is continually thwarted by his relentless desire to pursue justice that only he can deliver.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
“He has a demon inside of\u00a0him that came out when he needed it. If he\u2019s able to control it, there\u2019s no better person to be with. If not, I fear for you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u2013Former co-worker of Mal’s<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”306″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle_2″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Vinn<\/h2>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n
Vinn, whose real first name only she knows, is Mal\u2019s brilliant, beautiful, and more level-headed co-worker and sometimes lover. Sharing a similar murky past, she assists in his investigations by offering her ying to Mal\u2019s yang along with logical insight to counter his impulsiveness.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Chapter 33<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cVinn. Jenkins.\u201d Plastic baskets of half-eaten sandwiches sit before them along with plates of black beans and green plantains. The spot next to Vinn hosts an enticing platter of something that smells absolutely amazing, although given that I haven\u2019t eaten since yesterday my epicurean bar is low. Vinn notices me eyeing the dish.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cWe ordered for you.\u00a0Masas de Puerco<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>Pork with pickled red onion and mojo de ajo, a kind of garlic gravy. Rice and beans and fried sweet plantains too. Before you dig in, though, come give me a hug.\u201d<\/p>\n
I move toward her, only to have her put her hands on my chest and gently push me away. \u201cWhew,\u201d she says gently, \u201cyou smell. Best we save any physical encounters until you get a shower. To emphasize her point, she uses her left hand to slide my meal down one more seat away from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cTen years in the big house, and that\u2019s how you greet me?\u201d I growl, but with a smile. I grab my designated place, isolated that it may be, and begin cramming the steaming pork into my waiting mouth. My goodness, I didn\u2019t realize Cuban cuisine could taste this good.<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][vc_single_image image=”14″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”MASITAS DE PUERCO”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Pork:<\/b><\/p>\n
\n
- 3-4 pounds boneless pork shoulder,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- diced into medium pieces<\/li>\n
- 2 sour oranges or limes<\/li>\n
- 5 garlic cloves, mashed<\/li>\n
- 1 Tablespoon salt, or to taste<\/li>\n
- 1 teaspoon Domincan oregano<\/li>\n
- Black pepper to taste<\/li>\n
- Canola or Vegetable Oil<\/li>\n
- 1 1\/2 Cups water, if needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Mojo:<\/b><\/p>\n
\n
- 2 onions, sliced<\/li>\n
- 1-2 sour oranges or limes<\/li>\n
- 3 cloves garlic, diced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>Season meat with freshly-mashed garlic, salt (don\u2019t overdo it), oranges or limes, and oregano. Mix until well combined and let marinate for 20 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
2.<\/strong> Once meat has marinated, heat oil in a deep-sided skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes, using enough oil to fry meat later. Add meat and stir gently, watching to make sure garlic doesn\u2019t burn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
3.<\/strong> After the pork has released its juices, about 5-7 minutes, add water if necessary to keep meat submerged. Continue to cook for 30-40 minutes until tender, adding more water as needed.<\/p>\n
4.<\/strong> Meanwhile, prepare mojo. Mix onions, oranges or limes, and garlic. Set aside.<\/p>\n
5.<\/strong> Once meat is tender, it will begin to fry in the oil. Stir every 2-3 minutes to brown on all sides.\u00a0 <\/span>Remove and drain on paper towel.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”WHO IS WHO?”][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”305″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text] Malcom [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Mal is skilled, dangerous when provoked, and perpetually insecure. A rabid tea drinker, his attempt to leave a former life in the shadows behind as a faux college professor is continually thwarted by his relentless desire to pursue justice that only he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-304","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=304"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":379,"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304\/revisions\/379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thorsonbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}